Allotment show

Well Sunday is our allotment show and for the first time I am having a go at entering a few vegetables.

I'm going for the onions,  shallots, runner beans and a plate of 4 vegetables. I might also put a cabbage in.  Tomorrow is going to be preparation day.  I've never done onions before so hopefully YouTube will help.

I'll post pictures of the vegetables tomorrow.

Potatoes...

Have dug up my main crop now as am back at school next week and wanted to get them sorted before.

If I am being honest it's a bit of a disappointing year for the main crop, although there were a lot of potatoes a fair few have been eaten by things,  either slugs or red ants.  We have got a few though so not all lost.

Next year I think I will try and do more in raised beds as the new potatoes did really well... Not everything can go well and our onion harvest has been amazing large this year.

The images show the potatoes before storage and the bed they came from.

Chutney making - blackberry and apple

BlackBerry and apple chutney.

3lb apples
1 lb onions
Some ginger
1tsp pepper corns
1lb sugar
350ml vinegar
1.5lb blackberries
Pinch of paprika
1 chilli
Pinch of mustard seeds

Hopefully will be nice.  Made 3 large jars and a little to have now. Will store it for a few months before using it.

A week away

Popped down this evening after getting back from holiday.  Everything seems ok. Picked 2 courgettes that have turned into marrows.

Potatoes need digging up and path needs finishing.

Creating the paths

Using Crazy paving for new paths at the allotment. Today I started the process and will finish it after my holiday.  Got a lot more of the stones left.

Also took some photos of the leeks as well.

New paths

Am about to start construction of a new path at the allotment using the stone that I found in the front garden.  Will keep you updated with photos as it progresses

Harvest time

A few images of todays harvest. Also 3 courgettes. Lots more onions to come.

Plot update

Not been down much as doing holiday club at church

However got down today in the showers and picked one courgette,  the rest of the shallots and some onions to dry out in the greenhouse.

Also dug out my non fruiting raspberry canes and going to improve my fruit area...

The front garden

Not been at the plot in the last few days, but will go for a while tomorrow. However I have been working in the front garden to get it ready for next season, the plan is to create 3 small vegetable beds to compliment the allotment. We'll use the plot for the big crops but do some smaller ones and ones that require a little more care here.  However, it has been harder work than I would have hoped. Moving gravel first and then under that there was about an inch of soil and then an old crazy paving type of path.... 

Almost there with the clearing...

Start of the holidays

Today was the second day of the holidays and I got down to the plot for a couple of hours.  This holiday I am doing a lot of work both at the allotment and also at home in the front garden.  We are digging up a lot of the bed at the front and will use some of the slabs and stone at the plot.

Today though I did the following:

Tidied up the broad beans! they are finished now.  They did ok but not as well as I had hoped.

Picked some runner beans.  Only have 3 plants this year, also not a good year for them.

Dug up some more new potatoes.  Have a few plants left then a bit of a wait for the main crop. Done well this year, will plant more new ones next year...

Picked a tub full of black currants. They've done ok although been a little taken over by the weeds.  Next year am going to work on the fruit bed.

Picked a few more shallots, they have been excellent this year. Might do more next year

One large courgette from the plot as well.

So a good day. I also started work on the path by the side of the plot to make sure that it is getting neater.  Using some bricks etc as well.  We're getting there this year and the plot is looking better. Not perfect but definitely an improvement on last year.

First courgette

Today picked the first courgette from the allotment, we have had a few from our plants at home...

Didn't do much down at the plot today - took a load of bricks down for a new path and took a load of rubbish to the tip. That's about it really. The black currants are about ready, so looking forward to getting those later this week.

Strawberry and Rhubarb jam

My first jam made today... Strawberry and Rhubarb.

1kg rhubarb

1kg strawberries

1.5kg sugar 

1 juice of lemon

Cooked the rhubarb in some water first, cut up in cm chunks. After about 15 mins added strawberries and cooked again for 10-15 mins. When fruit all soft added sugar and lemon juice and simmered until hit setting point.

Will taste in morning!

Planting out some Rhubarb

It was a wet day today and I tried to dodge the showers, unsuccessfully as it turns out.  I had hoped to get a few jobs done but as it was I gave up... However I did plant out 4 of my Rhubarb plants that I have grown from seed, I still have a few more plants to put out as well.

My last leeks are also ready to go,  to be planted where I dug up the last of my new potatoes. They have done well this year.  

A few images though just to show what it is like.

Another quick Tuesday eve

Seems to be that I only get down to the plot on Tuesdays at the moment!  Popped down today, did a little weeding around the leeks and courgettes.  Came home with the last of the strawberries, some potatoes, some shallots and some broad beans. Not bad...

A quick Tuesday eve

Picked the rest of the Garlic today, so that bed is now almost clear ready to move the strawberries later on.  The garlic looks and smells lovely and I think that for next year I will plant some more.

Also picked another 2lb of strawberries, almost finished now but still some left. Beans still not good, not sure what has gone wrong with them this year.  Might try and get some more going but it is a little late.

And just had a small glass of Rhubarb Vodka!

Weekend Jobs

Didn't get a lot den this weekend, my dad was up so we were busy.  However we did get down to the plot and got a few jobs done.  We picked another 3lb of strawberries, some broad beans and some more potatoes. Almost finished the earlies but have a few more plants to dig up.

The main crop are flowering and the rain yesterday and last night would have helped them. Shallots are looking really good, some of the sets have split into 8/9 bulbs.  Also picked some more garlic and it is drying in the greenhouse. Need to work out where it is going to be stored.

At home the courgette plants are growing well, flowers have appeared and they are massive leaves!  The tomatoes in the greenhouse are flowering and some small fruits have appeared.  The Kale has almost finished and I might try and get some more going now so we can have it all autumn. The rhubarb is almost finished, probably one more harvest - will do some rhubarb chutney and rhubarb and strawberry jam.

I have bottled by Rhubarb vodka, it tastes ok and might be something I try again, esp for presents for people.  Am also going to try and do some black currant gin as well.

A good weekend really!

The Strawberry picking continues

Haven't blogged much recently but here is a quick update on the plot and the plot at home!

Have picked aroun 7 1/2 pounds of strawberries over the last 4 days

Broad beans have started and are nice

New potatoes still going strong. Have had 7/8 meals worth and lots of potato salad

Garlic being harvested. So far harvested around 15 bulbs with another 20 or so at the plot

Have also been doing a bit of tidying and weeding.

At home the tomato plants are flowering well and hopefully first fruits will appear soon. The Kale is still going strong and we have planted some more salad to catch up.  All looking good!

More produce.

Only popped into the plot today due to child care and the small matter of the cricket and the World Cup.  Did manage to pick a bit though, and use it for tea!

I picked

• 400g of Strawberries
• 1.5kg of new potatoes
• 5 garlic bulbs - these are drying out in the greenhouse.
• 6 rhubarb sticks

Quite happy with that really.  Made a strawberry and Rhubarb crunchy pudding which was nice.

A few pics from today as well.

Quick picture update

Some pictures from this week.

Eating the produce

Not much to post really, but for my records today we had potatoes and Kale from home.  Planted out the Kale about 6 weeks ago and it is now good.  2nd bag of spuds - enough for 1 meal for 5 of us.  The ones at the plot are looking good....

A brighter afternoon

After yesterday's deluge I popped down with my eldest to see how wet things were.  It wasn't too bad. Planted out a few more leeks and some more cabbages as well.

No pics but here are the first potatoes of the year.

Rhubarb Vodka

The start of my Rhubarb vodka.  Following Nigella's recipe http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/rhubarb-vodka-2034.

Will keep people updated.

A wet Saturday morning

Popped down to the plot this morning to do some tidying up and planting out some of my Leeks. ( I think I planted out about 30 and must have another 70 or so that germinated...)

I got some tidying up done, cutting the grass and clearing out some weeds.  But then the rain came so cutting and weeding became a little more tricky.  So I started putting some of the leeks out.  Completed 4 rows of about 8/10 in a row by the onions and courgettes.  Hopefully will have some more out tomorrow as well.

At home the tomatoes are doing well.  I also have got the first of the new potatoes from a bag.  They were not massive so will wait another few weeks before I go for another bag.  Salad still doing very well, have 1 pot about finished and another 2 troughs have seeded and ready for picking.  Today I put another one out so will have some more in a few weeks.

@ Home

As well as the allotment this year I have been doing a fair bit at the new garden in my new house.  As I have said before we have a greenhouse which is great but I have a bit of a surplus of plants this year...

However, it has enabled me to do a few firsts.  I have planted some Rhubarb from seed and today I planted them on in their own pots.  I have also got about 15 tomato plants on the go!   However, having a bit of space in the actual garden has allowed me to plant some crops at home as well, so the following pictures show the state of my garden here and my greenhouse.

Back from Holiday

Realised that May was not a good month for my blog - only one post.  So hopefully June will be better.  As it is the first, I thought I better start as I mean to go on.

Today I went to the plot for a couple of hours instead of Church.  I don't often do that but it is nice to spend 2 hours down on a Sunday morning.  I basically tidied up and then planted out more stuff.  The cabbages from before have been a little eaten - I need to get some netting - and one set of the Runner beans have also been nibbled a little too much...  However, everything else is looking good and strawberries and broad beans will be ready soon.

So today I planted out (at the allotment)

• 10 Courgette plants
• 15 French beans - with plastic bottle cloches
• 6 Sprouts

I also did a fair bit at the house garden but will put that  in another post

Planting Out

Today was mainly a planting out day.  Some bad news first - the beans I planted out a few weeks ago have been eaten.  Along with the Kale...  Although the Kale in the back garden is doing fine.  Today I planted out

• 20 Runner bean plants
• 4 courgettes
• 14 White Cabbages
• 7 Red Cabbages

I also did some weeding and dug over some beds etc.  Still got a bit to do but I am enjoying the plot this year and feel more on top of it than usual.

Back at the plot

It has been a couple of weeks since I last went down to the actual plot, although I have been doing a fair amount of work at home in the greenhouse - will post an update on that with pics tomorrow.

So today we all went down - kids and Anne as well, and things are looking quite good!  The garlic is storming along and the broad beans are slowly growing as well.  The onions have mainly all started to sprout and some carrots are poking there head above the ground!

We did the following today

• Planted out some French beans under fleece for protection.  I know this is slightly early but I am hopeful!
• Weeded some of the strawberry bed
• Planted out last of the spuds - 2 more rows!
• Tidied up the edging on some beds and started weeding around the raspberry and soft fruit area.

Tomorrow the plan is to do some work in the greenhouse and make sure that things are being thinned out and ready for potting on - Might pot on some cabbages...

Seeds, seeds and more seeds

Haven't been down to the plot for a few days- will pop down after work tomorrow however the gardening is still going strong. The last few days I have mainly been focussing at home. I have potted up a lot of strawberry plants I found and hope they will do well. I have also planted out some sweet pea seeds, some direct in the ground and others in modules in the greenhouse.

In terms of veg stuff, some more courgettes have been started off and also some salad leaves (2nd sowing) and some rocket...  Now just got to find space for everything....

Rhubarb

Trying to get some more Rhubarb going - planted some seeds so hopefully they will get going and be ready for next year.  I also planted some chard and some rocket.  The greenhouse is looking full!

Another day, more planted.

Today was only at the pot fir an hour or so bug I did get some more soil down there.  I also planted out around 90 onions, I have more to do if there is room.  3 small rows of shallots and a couple of rows of carrots also done.

At home I have found some rhubarb round by the greenhouse so I have cleared the bed and given them some fresh soil and compost.

Another successful day...

A picture says a thousand words

Pictures say it all today.  Got my greenhouse sorted, with gaffa tape, glass and plastic.  Paths have been made at the allotment with spare bricks and my broad beans planted out.  Garlic doing well too.

At home planted 20 runner beans and they are happily in the greenhouse.  I'm happy!

Moving soil

The past 2 days hVe been about moving soil and bricks from home to the allotment. I have moved so far 2 trailer loads of soil and have another one to go and quite a lot of bricks.  We are taking down to raised beds in the back garden ready for some grass and using the bricks for some paths and the soil for some raised beds at the plot.  It is looking better at both places!

Today I also planted out my broad beans from home -out of 25 seeds I had 18 plants.  I also put down some new seeds at the allotment as well.  Will try and get some pics tomorrow.  In one of the new beds I also planted out some shallots and 2 rows of carrots. Haven't had much success with carrots before so hoping this year is better...

The plot is looking good at the moment, still some tidying to do but overall the best it has looked for a long time. 

Main crop planted

Although today was a bit of a typical April day - windy and showery, I had a couple of hours down the plot with my Father in Law to try and finish of the rotavating and also plant out my main crop of potatoes.  I was mainly successful - the main beds were rotavated and although the ground was claggy and sticky we got most of the fruit bed done as well.

I planted out 4 rows of King Edwards, and have another 10 or so tubers to plant out.  So all in all a successful day.  Hopefully tomorrow I will have time to get the onions in.  

Roll on the rest of the Holidays!

More Seeds....

Just a quick post to state what seeds I have planted:

Leeks - 5 large pots

Courgettes - 12 seeds

Sprouts

Kale.

I like having a greenhouse!

Rotavating the plot

The allotment is looking good today.  It was the day for rotavating the plot.  I have rotavating most of the plot today, and my hands are still vibrating.  The soil was ok, and is now looking a lot better.  The picture below is an overview of things as they are.  The front raised beds have early potatoes in and the 2 empty ones will soon have some broad beans.  The rest of that bed is for my main crop.

The middle bed was the worst to dig, and still needs more work.  This will mainly be the onion bed although I am sure that there will be room for some other crops as well.  The 2 raised beds are my strawberries - the nearest one does need weeding still.  I will be back down tomorrow to finish off and plant out the onions and the Main Crop potatoes.  Busy busy now that it is the Easter Holidays

Seed update

Today I put my first seeds in the greenhouse.  Have planted 2 trays of cabbages (red and white), some Spring Cabbages, some salad leaves and some lettuces.  I also put some mixed french beans out as well.

An update on my tomato seeds - they have nearly all germinated and are growing slowly.  My broad beans have also started to show!  Exciting times!

Manure and Spuds!

This weekend I have been at the plot for about 4 hours.  Could have done with longer but being Mothers Day and having school work to do that was about the limit!  

However,a fair bit got accomplished so at least that was positive.  On the Saturday the whole family was down for a while.  The boys and I mainly worked on the potatoes while Anne spent time weeding one of the strawberry beds and also potting up some runners to be planted in another bed soon.   

The Second early's are also out in the ground now.  Am quite proud of the soil in that area, it hasn't been used in a few years so I am expecting some couch grass to reappear but overall it looks good.  I added a bag of manure as well so am hoping for a good crop.

Next week is all about rotavating.  I will be hiring one for the weekend and the rest of the plot will be ready for the crops - onions, main crop and some other seeds I think.  At home, good news, my tomatoes have sprouted!  Need to plant some more seeds this week....

And that is that for the weekend.  Roll on the Easter Holidays!

Spring is springing

A nice afternoon down at the plot today, April showers before April starts really.  Today I dug over and made one of the beds I have not used for a few years - the amount of couch grass is astounding and I am going to have to keep an eye on it!  I also used some old fence panels to mark it out and created a little path between it and the now onion bed.   I'm hoping that with a bit of care etc that this area can become good again, as in my first few years at the plot it was the best soil I had.  In the last few years it has flooded a lot but hopefully this year it will be ok.  I also planted out some onions, around 50 sets today.  Still have another 100 or so to plant so hopefully going to have a lot this year.  Added some of our own compost to the onion bed, not much compost made this year - going to create a comfrey patch I think to help with this.  

One thing I am very happy with so far is the Garlic - as you can see from the photo it is continuing to do well.  I am hoping for some big crops this year and will use some of the cloves for next year as well.

I am happy that my first Broad Beans are just about popping up, hopefully they should now do well. Back at home I have started some seeds off.  

I have planted around 30 tomato plants and 25 broad bean plants.  Hopefully they will do well - using newspaper pots this year again.  This week I need to start my brassicas off, lots of cabbages and some broccoli.  Also leeks need to get going as well.

I am feeling positive about the plot this year - having a greenhouse at home helps and for once I feel on top of it.  Looking forward to the Easter Holidays as well in order to get everything in - especially my spuds!